Chloe Collins released from jail in Oman
ORDEAL OVER: Chloe Collins from Kraaifontein ORDEAL OVER: Chloe Collins from Kraaifontein
After months of
sitting in the mang in Oman, for a murder her brother allegedly committed, Capetonian Chloe Collins returned home on Monday.
In a statement, the
Collins family thanked members of the public who had supported them since the young woman’s arrest in the Middle Eastern country in May 2019.
Chloe, from Kraaifontein, was nabbed for allegedly helping her brother escape a murder case.
“She got him a (plane) ticket and helped him to escape,” said a source.
Her brother, who has not been named, was considered a person of interest in the death of an Omani taxi
driver.
Omani authorities reportedly wanted the brother to hand himself over in exchange for Chloe’s
freedom.
Chloe, a performing artist, had arrived in Oman in April 2019 to work in the hospitality industry as a hotel waitress.
However, less than three weeks after arriving, she was jailed.
Family spokesperson
lawyer Simone Carolissen said last year that the brother was diagnosed with schizophrenia after he was sent home by Chloe’s employer, following an apparent mental breakdown in Oman.
In their statement this week, the Collins family said Chloe would be in quarantine for the next 14 days and be reunited with her family thereafter.
They said they were releasing a statement to avoid
misinformation about Chloe’s situation and in order to keep those who had supported the family informed.
The family was represented by Carolissen Attorneys, who assisted the family for free.
“While we are still studying the court’s judgement on her matter, we have been informed that Chloe was ultimately found guilty of having knowledge of her brother - allegedly a person of interest in another matter - returning to South Africa before the Omani authorities could question him,” the statement read.
“She was sentenced to one-year detention, with the time already served taken into account.
“While we do not agree with the judgement, we do not know whether Chloe will decide to appeal considering the resources required and her extraordinarily traumatic experience to date.”
The family said public support strengthened her case.
“The overwhelming love, care and dedication displayed by everyone who took an interest in Chloe’s plight likely saved her life and
contributed to getting her home safely,” the family said.